RIVERSIDE, Ca. — The last living person to hear the humorous term “evangel-astic” says he very much enjoyed the joke.

On Sunday, church-goer Dave Walters spoke with a friend in the foyer of Christ the King Church. The friend mentioned that a visiting minister had perhaps spoken “evangel-astically” about the success of overseas crusades. When the term was explained to Walters, he laughed “for a minute or so, maybe thirty seconds,” he says. “I thought the way they paired the word ‘evangelistic’ and ‘elastic’ was very clever.”

Walters immediately shared the joke with his wife as they drove home. She had heard it before, but reportedly chuckled for 15-20 seconds anyway.

But since first hearing “evangel-astic,” Walters has heard it three dozen more times in conversation and on the radio. Oftentimes, the speaker stretches out the word syllable by syllable to make sure people get the joke, he says.

“I’m kind of sick of it now,” he says. “I almost wish I’d never heard it.” •